We’re all going on a League One tour, but what have Forest Green made of 23-24…

The world’s first vegan football club are heading back to the National League

Jun 07, 2024

Friday 7 June 2024

If you’d like to write an article for The Scarf My Father Wore, share a few snippets or photos, or advertise your business, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.

⚽️ EURO 2024 SWEEPSTAKE ⚽️

£5 to enter. £50 to the winner, £20 to the runner-up, and £50 to Mentell. 24 teams drawn at random before the tournament starts. If you’d like a team, simply reply to this email (or drop Des Junior a message).

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Forest Green supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Ian Crawley, chairman of the Forest Green Supporters Club, joins us today as we reflect on the end of the club’s seven-year spell in the Football League.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Greenshoots Yoga and Forever Home Dog Training. A big thank you to both Claire and Gareth.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 148.94 miles

Total steps so far: 237,462

Total raised so far: £1,821

Total completed streets so far: 304 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

With World War 3 getting closer with each passing day, the government have asked me to pass on the following questions:

A) Who’s been your toughest player in 2023-24, most suitable to stick on the frontline?

B) What’s the best food you’ve had at a ground in 2023-24, that we can use for the troops in the trenches to keep morale up?

C) If World War 3 does kick off, how will Forest Green fans react in a crisis?

A) Ryan Inniss. Always willing to put his head where you would think twice about putting a foot.

B) Our Q Pie. A tasty mix of Quorn and leek.

C) We’d prepare the stadium for use by the authorities – the army perhaps? This reflects the history of the fans being active in decorating the stadium, clearing the pitch of snow, etc.

Best moment of 2023-24?

Before the season started, when we were confident that our situation could not get any worse, at least being able to sustain a place in League Two.

I’d also mention the excellent win in our last away game at Morecambe, to give us hope for next season.

Worst moment of 2023-24?

The appointment of Troy Deeney as first team coach. It was clear from his few games as a player that he did not have the right temperament, as he was regularly booked for dissent and he chose periods in a game when he would spring in to life or sulk on the wing.

Funniest moment of 2023-24?

Troy Deeney trying to defend his sacking.

Four Four Two said you’d finish 14th. When Saturday Comes said you’d finish 14th. You finished 24th. Discuss.

What do the pundits know? But then again, who could have predicted the disastrous managerial appointments, each with a different playing style. Plus, our recruitment in the January transfer window was very poor.

Callum Camps scored County’s goal of the season at Forest Green (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

County 2 Forest Green 0 in October. Forest Green 0 County 3 in March. Thoughts?

We weren’t competitive in either.

Best and worst away days of 2023-24?

Best: When we believed we had hit the jackpot in appointing David Horseman from Southampton as the manager.

Worst: When the fans realised Horseman only had one way of playing and it did not suit the quality of players available to him in League Two. It took the club’s owner a few weeks longer!

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Sign up for Claire’s yoga and meditation session next Friday

Next Friday, Claire from Greenshoots Yoga is running a yoga and meditation session at St Paul’s Church Hall in Heaton Moor for children and parents/carers, from 5pm till 6pm.

These sessions are fun, playful, strengthening and nurturing. It involves good tunes, yoga and beautiful bonding partner postures.

Visit greenshootsyoga.co.uk for further details.

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Gain some extra training and guidance on taking your dog for a walk this summer

With summer on the way, you might be planning new adventures with your dog such as a long walk in the country or even a holiday on the coast. You might find it beneficial to join Gareth for one of his courses, which will give you extra training and guidance before taking your canine chum to a brand new place.

On Sunday 16 June, there’s a loose lead workshop – a four hour masterclass in working on your dog’s lead walking skills. This is a practical course, with lots of different exercises, and you’ll receive a certificate and workbook at the end.

Then on Sunday 30 June it’s their first ever canine body language masterclass. This is ideal for dog owners who want to know more about how their dog communicates and displays when they are happy, stressed, worried or over aroused. Gareth will help you understand what different types of body language mean in different breeds and why it happens – not just looking to see if the dog’s tail is wagging.

Visit foreverhomedogtraining.com for further details.

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Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

A cool lob from Oshor Williams to rescue a late equaliser at home to Tranmere Rovers in February 1982, in front of 1,934 at Edgeley Park.

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Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Fall Guy (12A) at 5.30pm, followed by Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (15) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJs

Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.

🍺 Food and drink

If you find yourself in Stockport tonight, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two.

🎤 Karaoke

The Alexandra (SK3) with DJ Big Ace. 8pm.

🎸 Live music

The Aim at The Crown (SK6). 9pm.

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100 random grounds that County have played at

#35 – Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

Last visit: December 1997. Nine months after winning at the Riverside in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, County returned to Middlesbrough as league opponents in Division One. Mike Flynn levelled for Gary Megson’s men in the first half following Craig Hignett’s early opener, before Mikkel Beck scored twice for the home side after the break.

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